There is no need to convince the locals – we are all well aware of how lucky we are to live in an area with fresh air, wide open spaces, a good choice of great schools for our children to attend and a lovely rural feel. But for those considering moving to the area here are our top ten reasons to make the move to Warragul.

Location, Location, Location!

Warragul is literally in a location sweet spot. Travel one hour south and you’ll be at the beach, one hour north and you can visit the snow and one hour east will see you in Melbourne. Warragul is surrounded by beautiful, green, rolling hills with the Strzeleckis to the south and the Baw Baws to the North. It is located on the main train line and on a clear morning you can hear the cows mooing and the Magpies warbling from the middle of town.

Support Local

If leading a more sustainable lifestyle and supporting local producers is on your want list then Warragul is the place for you. Many stores in town focus on supporting local producers with Lean and Green and Baw Baw Food Hub stocking local produce including Gippsland Jersey milk. Every third Saturday morning you can visit the Warragul Farmer’s Market and buy fresh produce straight from the producers themselves, and from October through to March the Warragul Arts Market showcases stunning offerings from local artisans.

Affordability

House and land prices in West Gippsland are still at affordable levels compared to Melbourne and suburbs with many people selling up in the city to be mortgage free in Warragul. Many choose to commute and often report that their commute time is more than bearable compared to the commute through peak hour in the city. Block sizes are still generous with blocks available in Copeland’s estate from 500m2 to 2400m2.

Great Cafes and Restaurants

Café culture is thriving in Warragul. Visit the town centre any Saturday morning to see the cafes bustling. We are lucky to have amazing cafes such as Mainstreet and Stella’s Pantry (a well stocked deli also!) for consistently awesome coffee. If you are looking for somewhere to treat the kids you can’t go past Frankies and if healthy offerings are your thing there is Earth Market Café. If restaurant dining is more your thing, dine at Hoggett Kitchen for exceptional food made from local produce. For something a little more gastropub-like chef Leigh Marino at The Courthouse won’t let you down or try Three Brothers and an Oven for pizza, burgers and gelato.

Wineries Galore!

There are so many wineries to visit in the area you’ll need to make a concentrated effort to get to them all. With many having produced award winning wines and the region being known for producing particularly impressive Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, you will be spoilt for choice. Our picks? Cannibal Creek Winery and Ripplebrook Winery And if you are keen for a night in, visit The Press Cellars where Stu and Margot are sure to steer you toward your perfect bottle.

Fantastic Schools

And plenty of choice. Warragul is lucky to boast many great schools, both public and private, early learning, primary and secondary. The private schools have the added bonus of being highly affordable when compared to their city counterparts. Warragul & District Specialist School is also a boon to the local community, catering for students with mild to profound intellectual disabilities.

Sporting Opportunities

Warragul has produced many outstanding sportspeople including AFL footballers, boxers, cyclers, MMA fighters and Olympians. You’ll find every type of sporting club you can think of from football, netball, basketball and soccer to swimming, karate, dance and cheer. Our sporting culture is strong with winter Saturday mornings seeing plenty of the population at sporting fields and netball courts, and you can guarantee the town will be quiet Friday nights before footy finals!

Thriving Arts Community

Warragul and surrounds are blessed with a thriving creative and performing arts community. Being home to the West Gippsland Arts Centre, the region’s major performing arts, cultural and community centre, locals have access to world-class performances without having to travel to Melbourne. The Baw Baw Arts Alliance is a local group who work to promote, facilitate and encourage, a vibrant and creative arts environment the community and programs such as Open Studios, allowing the public to visit home studios where amazing artworks are created.

Excellent Facilities

The Warragul Leisure Centre with an outdoor pool, indoor pool and kid’s pool plus basketball courts and creche, West Gippsland Hospital, many parks and playgrounds, community gardens, retirement homes, walking tracks, sportsgrounds, netball courts, childcare centres, gyms and more can all be found in Warragul. We are lucky to have fantastic health professionals including Physiotherapists, Chiropractors, Osteopaths, Myotherapists, Psychologists, Podiatrists, Orthodontists, Optometrists, Audiologists and plenty more.

Community Spirit

The sense of community is alive and well in Warragul. There is a strong urge to help and support each other whether it is collaborations between local businesses, providing assistance to locals in need or supporting locals in achieving their dreams. Many community events are held throughout the year providing not only entertainment but also the chance, through participation, to support the community as a whole.

Warragul is an amazing township with plenty to offer. If you are considering a move to the area Heywood and Co. would love to assist with finding the perfect home for you and your family.

]]>Choosing a Property Managerhttp://heywoodandco.com.au/choosing-a-property-manager/
Mon, 02 Jul 2018 05:24:47 +0000http://heywoodandco.com.au/?p=4737Choosing a property manager and more than this, choosing the right property manager, can play a vital role in the rental process of an investment property. A good property manager will seek to maximise weekly rental income and source high quality tenants who will best take care of your asset. It is therefore crucial to choose wisely when deciding who should represent you and your property.

Once you have shortlisted a few candidates you should meet with them individually and ask them the following questions before choosing a property manager.

Questions to ask when interviewing and choosing a property manager:

1. Does your agency have a dedicated property management department?

Some agencies will view the task of property management as less important than selling and will therefore leave this task up to the front desk staff or receptionists. Discover if the agency is experienced in the area of property management and has dedicated staff to effectively manage your property.

2. Is a director/owner of the agency overseeing the property management department?

How focused is the agency on property management? The more important property management is to an agency, the more successful they may be at effectively managing your property.

3. How many years of experience do you have in property management?

Experienced property managers will be able to attract the best tenants to look after your property and deal with those that become difficult.

4. Can you provide me with a written comparison of rental values in the market?

An experienced and knowledgeable agent will be able to benchmark comparable rental properties on the market and advise you of the optimal rental return you should receive from your property.

5. What is your process for reviewing potential tenants?

How do they determine whether the tenant is suitable for a property? Do they conduct police checks, or checks regarding their past rental history, current employment, etc?

6. How many properties are you managing at the moment?

Are they representing many other people, hence being reputable and successful? Bigger, however, is not always better. Will you get the service and attention required during the property management process?

7. Will you go to court to represent me if needed?

In the case that you experience difficult tenants, you may need to go to court to resolve certain issues about the bond or other matters. The property manager you decide on will need to be experienced and willing to support you in these times.

8. Will you advise me of any maintenance and repairs that need to be made to the property?

In particular when non urgent repairs need to be made, will you seek approval before getting items repaired?

9. What are your fees?

Enquire about management fees as well as any other costs a property manager may charge. Typical fees you may incur include those related to sourcing tenants, ongoing management of property and monthly statement fees.

10. Can I please see some references or contact details of the landlords using your property management services?

What level of service was provided to past clients? Did they take care of the landlord and follow through on all which was promised?

source: view.com.au

]]>How to: Prepare your house for an open inspectionhttp://heywoodandco.com.au/how-to-prepare-your-house-for-an-open-inspection/
Wed, 04 Jan 2017 03:23:55 +0000http://heywoodandco.com.au/?p=1985Inspections are like a first date. You only get one chance to make that first impression.

Set your property up for inspection success with these simple tips.

Clean up

You’ll be surprised how much a good cleaning will make the house look. Picture: Getty Images

Yes, it’s Captain Obvious, but you’d be surprised. Make sure your whole property is neat and tidy when buyers arrive, including the garden and outside areas.

Remove shoes from the entrance and any hazards people might trip over.

Get the big clean out of the way in advance, then keep your place in good condition while your place is on the market. That way you should only need a refresh to prepare for a new inspection date, rather than a top to bottom makeover.

Clear out the mailbox and get those rubbish bins emptied and, ideally, out of sight (especially if they’re normally one of the first things people will see arriving at your home).

Enlist a professional organiser or declutterer if you need a hand – or a friend might even help out. Get a second opinion who can review objectively.

Invite light & air

Air out your home thoroughly before the inspection, so it feels as fresh and clean as possible. If potential buyers feel stuffy they’ll head straight for the door.

If the weather and security permits, crack open a window or two during the inspections themselves, so air keeps flowing through.

Draw back curtains and blinds to bring in as much as light as possible and show off your house from the street.

Help your pets camouflage

Viewers will often be able to tell if a pet resides in the property. Picture: Getty Images

One of the most common complaints from potential buyers at open for inspections are those tell tale signs you share your home with someone furry. If they’re not yours, pet smells or stains can actively turn someone off your property.

Deodorise your property to remove the whiff of little creatures and get someone who doesn’t normally live there to confirm you’re clear (you might be used to it and can’t sniff what others can).

Clean traces of hair from floors and furniture, stow feeding bowls and toys.

Remove any litter boxes or droppings from the yard, and give your pets a vacation during inspections.

Personal touches

A personal touch here and here helps your home feel less stagey or artificial, and can spark an emotional connection with a buyer.

One idea is to gather up photos that show off your house (at its best, of course) and put them in an album for people to flick through if they’re curious or inspired. If you don’t have printed photos, you could have an iPad or digital photo frame on rotation.

Fresh flowers are another way to add personality, or a small dish of sweets near the door that people can grab on their way in or out. Remember, it’s not about mints on the pillow, it’s about keeping humanity in the home.

Smell-o-vision

Air fresheners can help mask a horrible scent. Just don’t go overboard. Picture: Getty Images

People fuss over the visual but often forget that it’s a nose can make or break an open inspection.

Remove smells that are unpleasant, like stinky shoes, and watch out for specific food smells that may not agree with everyone.

Counter the ick with inviting smells using flowers, candles, air fresheners or even freshly brewed coffee.

Just take care your smell engineering doesn’t become too sickly or overpowering – and avoid pungent aromas like incense. You want your property to smell like a home, not a perfumery!

A home staging consultant can help with these touches, and can also advise about furniture, artwork and other style elements that can help your place come to life for buyers.

Strike the right temperature

Make your space a nice temperature for viewers. Picture: Getty Images

Keep an eye on the weather and heat or cool your home so it’s optimal when would-be buyers walk through.

People shoudn’t raise a sweat or a chill, and you need to demonstrate your property can effortlessly cope with the climate around it. You should be aiming to give them a cool or warm blast, depending on what’s most welcome at that time.

If heating or cooling is malfunctioning and impossible to fix for inspection time, place fans or portable heaters strategically so they don’t get in the way but still do the job.

Safety first

Be sure not to leave anything valuable in sight.

Whether you’re attending the inspection or not, you should take care to remove and protect anything precious or valuable before you open your house up to strangers – just in case one of them is light fingered.

Check with your insurers about your coverage for an open inspection, and if you need to do something extra to stay protected.

You can take items with you if you’re leaving the premises for the inspection, or lock them up in a safe or secure cupboard or drawer. If you don’t have an area you can lock away, hide them in the back of a wardrobe or somewhere out of sight and mind.

Agents usually record the details of people coming through your property, to deter thieves and provide some accountability if anything ends up missing or damaged. However this isn’t a perfect system and shouldn’t be relied upon.

Make sure your property is safe for people to walk through and only let people into your house at the specified inspection times. It’s better to cancel than invite disaster!

Have paperwork ready

Have the information about the property available at the inspection.

Though most buyers don’t get to the negotiating stage during a walk through, it pays to be ready with all the information a visitor might want.

Work with your agent to have any relevant paperwork (renovation history, pest documentation, approvals for further development) in the property ready to be reviewed or go home with serious parties.

The less buyers have to ask, they more at ease they’ll feel in the property and the more time they’ll be able to spend imagining themselves in it.

And just in case someone decides to snap your property up on the spot, you’ve got all you need to proceed with the discussion.

Make yourself scarce

Now would be a good time to take the dog for a walk.

While your house is getting the once over, you should leave potential buyers to wander your halls unencumbered and relaxed.

Coordinate with your agent and be ready to head out for a short time, taking any other family members or inhabitants with you (including the pets). Have a timetable of all planned inspections somewhere central, and a copy to take with you.

Have a bag ready so you can leave quickly (this is also handy for any unplanned inspections). Don’t forget to do a quick pass through on the way out, clearing away any new messes or misplaced objects, like toys.

If you don’t want to leave entirely, consider setting up an area in the house or yard that can act as a retreat for you while buyers explore. This way you’ll be around for a chat if people want to ask your about the home or the area, but not so close people feel they can’t browse in peace.

Source: Realestate.com.au, Vanessa Paech, 29/11/12

]]>Property presentation tipshttp://heywoodandco.com.au/property-presentation-tips/
Wed, 04 Jan 2017 02:42:52 +0000http://heywoodandco.com.au/?p=1982To maximise your return when selling your home, it’s important to know what to do your house, how much to spend and what makes the difference to buyers.

Cleaning, tidying and de-cluttering are all common sense, but there are often more profitable decisions to be made about landscaping, painting, repairs and hiring furniture.

Effort counts

Many vendors naturally want to minimise the cost of readying their property for sale, but a smarter strategy is to focus on items that will give the best return.

If the vendor were to spend $400 tidying the garden and giving the house a good clean it might add $5000 (yes, it really does make that much difference) meaning they’d make a profit of $4500 ($5000 minus $500) on their efforts.

However, if that same vendor were to spend $9000 on painting, carpeting, cleaning and furniture hire in all the right colours and styles they could easily add $30,000. That is a profit of $21,000 ($30,000 minus $9000).

Comparing a return of $4500 with $21,000 might seem far-fetched but I see it happen week after week. As long as you make the right enhancements, you can add to your sale price significantly.

Know your buyer

If you do your homework you can give buyers almost exactly what they want. That is, the way you present your property should be based on what people from specific buyer groups want.

First home buyers, families, empty nesters and single adults all have identifiable property needs. If you make sure your property satisfies the needs of at least one of these groups you are tailoring your ‘product’ to suit the market. That means buyers will have to do very little when they first move in – something worth several extra bids at auction.

Detail matters

After living in your home for many years, you may have gotten used to that cracked window, or the wonky floorboard that squeaks near the front door. When it comes to opening your house for an inspection, however, the little things will be noticed by potential buyers, and they will likely reduce their offering price accordingly.

Invite your agent or a good friend around to cast a critical eye over your home. Follow this list and your home will be ready to pass muster.

Cleanliness is king

Making your home presentable for sale is more than just decluttering living areas and giving the benches a good wipe-down.

A proper spring clean is required to attract buyers – after all, they want to picture themselves living in the house, and who wants to live in a dirty home?

Crumbs in the cutlery drawer, water stains in the cupboard under the sink and gunk down the side of the fridge are often overlooked in the kitchen.

Make sure you remember to get the cobwebs in the cornices and the dead flies on the windowsills throughout the house. Take a good scrubbing brush and either a chemical spray or some vinegar and bicarb soda to the grout in your bathroom tiles.

All surfaces should be sparkling, but remember to clean far enough in advance that your potential buyers don’t walk into an overpowering smell of chlorine bleach on inspection day.

Depersonalise your space

While your range of funny fridge magnets, and pin board for school reports and gym timetables might be essential to your daily life, they prevent buyers from visualising themselves living in your house.

Depersonalising and neutralising the space is an important factor in getting buyers to fall in love with the house, see themselves living there, and bidding accordingly.

Rooms should have only one or two pieces of inoffensive art. Canvas prints from nature are good, life-size nudes less so. Clutter on benches and bookshelves needs to go, but don’t just toss it in a cupboard.

An open for inspection implies that your whole house is up for review, and a cupboard full of junk makes it appear as though there’s a shortage of organised storage space.

Get your green thumb into gear

Many parts of Australia may be subject to water restrictions, but that’s no excuse for dying plants, bare patches on the lawn, and dusty doormats.

If you can’t use the garden hose, then make sure everything gets thoroughly swept – including outside window frames, the top of the barbecue and the letterbox.

Mow, edge and rake lawns to create a polished finish, prune trees and shrubs, and look at replacing plants that are lacklustre. A little bit of hard work will see your home sparkle, and be more attractive to potential buyers.